What Should We Expect of Kessel?

Phil Kessel makes his debut as a Toronto Maple Leaf tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He joins a team that won only one game in October and sits last place in the entire National Hockey League.

Unsurprisingly, the belief in Leafland is that Kessel is our last hope if we want to turn this season around. Let’s not exaggerate here - people understand that one player can’t do it all. But the general hope is that Kessel will make those around him better, and being the difference maker that pushes the team out of their slump.

It might not happen. It might, but if it does, it might not be in three games. It might not be until January. It might not be until next season.

A lot of new Maple Leafs have had large expectations put upon their shoulders, and have failed to meet up to them.

However, a number of those initial disappointments turned out to be not so bad - Pavel Kubina and Ed Belfour come to mind.

Don’t judge Kessel on whether he turns the team around this season. Don’t judge him based on the Leafs final spot in the standings. Don’t judge him based on whomever the Boston Bruins draft in the first round in 2010 and 2011.

Remember, Phil Kessel is a Leaf for the next five years, and Brian Burke has a prime opportunity to surround him with talent this offseason. Oh, did I mention he just turned 22?

Anyways, you get the idea, and I don’t mean to patronize Leafs Nation like some of the elitist dolts in the MSM. Just have some patience on reserve in case he doesn’t meet your wildest expectations.

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